RR vs GT, Qualifier 1 at Kolkata, IPL, May 24 2022 - Match Result

And that, friends, is all we have for you on ESPNcricinfo tonight. But remember, the Rajasthan Royals are not yet out. They will watch tomorrow's Eliminator carefully to see who they meet in Qualifier 2. Till then, congratulations Gujarat Titans.... what a story eh!

David Miller, the Player of the Match: "If it's in the V, it's in the tree. If it is in the arc, it's out of the park! (What's changed?) Opportunity, firstly. I have been given a good role and given an extended run. Have good backing from the outside. For my personal game, I am enjoying my role. I have played long time but I am understanding my game better. I am trying to keep everything closer to my gameplan. (Sixes tonight) There's been a lot of people going wide outside off stump, so I decided to step that side. I knew they had a certain plan. (State of mind coming into Titans) Joy of IPL, you play for different teams. Franchise cricket you get to meet players, I knew few people already moving into the team. There were a few butterflies, but after our first close win, everything aligned and we started making a nice habit. (Mindset of a finisher?) You got to control what you can. Can't think too much ahead and what WILL happen. You need to concentrate on your breathing, and if it's in your area you have to do it. It's the last over, so you know no more balls left. (Celebrations?) Got a few days off. We have an hour long bus trip, so maybe!"

11.54pm Here's Hardik Pandya, the winning captain: "(Emotion in check) I have tried to balance things. Have had difficult times, certain situations, my body, bubble life. But my son and my wife, and my brother - they have played a big role. Allowed me to be neutral. (First final for Titans) Right now, I don't have much feelings. Trying to be neutral. Only thing I was very proud of is that all 23 players are different personalities. They bring different things on the table. I just told Miller that if you have good people around you, you get good things. For our team, the genuine humans we have has allowed us to do well. I genuinely see that the boys outside the XI want the players to do well. (Conversations with international stars like Miller/Rashid and youngsters) It is all about that we respect this game. That's the conversation we had with Miller. Rashid has been fantastic throughout, but I am more proud of David. I told him 'let's respect this game.' We goofed up against Mumbai Indians, and wanted to respect the game here, even if we lose. But wanted both of us to finish. (Batting at No. 4) As a cricketer, I have always been the kind of player who will play wherever team wants me to bat. I have not found success batting in my choice, I have found success in playing where the teams need me. We have a batting order where we need players to chip in. 20 runs can also be matchwinning runs. We appreciate those 10-15 runs. (Dream of winning the IPL) When we started the tournament, obviously I wanted to win. It is a dream. The four times I have reached an IPL final, I have won the tournament. I was just telling the boys."

Presentation has begun. Some sponsor awards with Miller, Buttler sharing a few. Looking forward to hearing Hardik talk to Harsha. But before that, Samson gets an award for dominating the powerplay - has to be coerced to pose for a photo. He's unlikely to be interested in winning awards in games he has lost.

Prakah: "Give a shout out to rashid khan as well .. i think it's one of the difference between two teams tooo"

Manu Ajmani: "It might be a good idea for Rahul Dravid to take Ashish Nehra under his wings as a mentor to Team India. He absolutely nailed it before the start of the IPL!"

Another stat that would worry the Royals: "Among the players to bowl the 20th over ten or more times in the IPL, Prasidh Krishna's economy rate of 13.62 is the worst."

11.45pm While we wait for the presentation, let's take you back to this snippet from an Ashish Nehra (Gujarat Titans coach) interview we did before the season started. The headline may give you goosebumps.
What are the few key things Titans need to do to build a winning rhythm and stay consistent?

The most important thing in the IPL is how you react in pressure situations and in close games. Those two points are key [to success]. I am not saying that our aim is only to qualify, but if you want to go step by step [for playoffs], you should know how to win those close games and how to make fewer mistakes. This team has so much talent, but you have to be patient and you have to work together. In the IPL, if I'm not wrong, around 75% games go really close; I would say around 50-60% games go to the 20th over. It is for the players to understand those situations and what the team needs at that point of time.

Stat alert: 16 runs are the most target runs any team successfully chased in the last over of an IPL playoff. The previous highest was 13 runs by CSK in last year's qualifier vs DC.

This is the third time Gujarat Titans successfully chased down a 180-plus target this season. KXIP in 2014, DD in 2017, CSK in 2018, KKR in 2019 and RR in 2020 are the other teams to have three successful 180-plus target chases in an IPL season.

Kishore Kumar: "You are always on the Edge, Until you have a bowler, who can confidently bowl yorkers in the death overs!!!, This is applicable for any team."

Hang around with Sreshth, who will take you through the presentation

Gill: "Kolkata has always been nice to me, and fortunately it was one of those nights... Nice to be in the final. Batting at Eden Gardens is an opportunity you look forward to. We expected the pitch to be a complete belter. Ball was holding up, and spinners were getting grip. It's been tremendous to be a part of this team."

SamC: "Don't give wickets to RR spinners and you have won 2/3 of the battle! "

Samson after a close and disappointing loss: "Happy with the score. Wicket was a bit sticky. It was helping bowlers, there was swing in the powerplay. It was two-paced, and bounce was not even. I was lucky to get a few runs in the powerplay... That kind of total in that kind of conditions was great... Having Riyan helps [as a bowling option], but the wicket was good to bat in the second innings. We have been playing good cricket... Couple of overs and extra runs here and there... Luck plays a huge role; toss plays a huge role. Controllable is just to come back and express yourself."

Himanshu: "Some teams have death over-specialists. GT is a bunch of final-over specialists."

Parth: "It's 4 AM, here in Brisbane, Australia and I woke up due to cold shivers as I am unwell. So glad I did as I could see the 3 Miller sixes to get my home team over the line!!! Go Titans! "

11.30pm A partnership of 106 in ten overs, and that does the job for Titans. A batting line-up which was thought to be lacking depth has time and again kept delivering. Another big chase pulled off with calmness, as Pandya plays patiently at the end while Miller decides to thrash everything coming his way. Don't forget Rashid's contribution in keeping Royals tied down - he conceded just 15 in four overs - an effort that goes a long way in deciding Titans' fate.

Change in field, with 4 to get off 4.

Jayavardhan: "O Brother, Where Art Thou Yorkers!"